Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom today introduced Bill 47 to the Legislative Assembly in response to the Ferry Commissioner’s review of the Coastal Ferry Act. Details are sketchy at the moment, but Lekstrom’s announcement proposes changes that will :
- change the primary role of the Ferry Commissioner to one which balances the interests of ferry users and taxpayers with the financial sustainability of the ferry operator
- allow cross-subsidy between the major routes and minor ferry routes
- give the Ferry Commissioner greater flexibility in calculating the fare cap in future years
- provide the Ferry Commissioner with “enhanced powers” and “additional tools” in his role as regulator.
More detail will be published when they become available.